Fujita Seiko:: The Last Koga Ninja

There is not much else in the English language about the life of Fujita Seiko but this book so here goes. It starts by narrating the early life of Seiko from Seiko's own writings. How he had a hot-blooded crazy temper, how he ran away from home to live with Yamabushi mountain monk-warrior for 100 days, his constant fighting and trouble making and finally how his grand father saw in him Ninjutsu training material. Not to mention various fights and daredevil challenges with ppl much bigger and stronger than him. Seems pretty fantastical but when you hear of the ppl Seiko rubbed shoulders with and how he was very well respected in the martial arts community in his time, it doesn't seem so far fetched. The book then goes through the different lineages of martial arts which Seiko was both a student of and a teacher, that was the most boring part of the book. Then comes the famed Nakano School connection "which was just recently proved btw" . It ends with the final years of his life and some of his research. Great book in total, it did somehow try to cast Hatsumi and his fraudulent org in a positive light and tried to force Seiko's claim with Hatsumi's and it just doesn't work. However the author was honest enough to admit that respected Martial Arts circles in Japan tend to discard Hatsumi's claim and accept Seiko's. The whole Ninjutsu is a hand to hand marital art system theme went through the book and seemed very forced, Seiko himself didn't seem to claim anything like that, and whats in the book, suggest only training regiments for climbing, scouting, spying and physical strength. Which closely matches the training regiments of Jinichi Kawakami from the Iga-ueno museum "Both in my opinion are the only legitimate Ninjutsu masters post 1868 aka the Meiji restoration, they are the only ones with connections to the Japanese government and the only ones to be taken seriously by the Japanese public ,all the other claims esp Bujinkan, Budo, genbukan are fraudulent imho" . There was the spiritual aspects of Seiko's interests as well, which includes things like remote viewing and life after death, souls...etc This man was indeed very mysterious and a very interesting character fitting of only a real Koka Ninja.

This is a pretty good little book, but does leave you wanting more. I believe the good intentions of the author more than I believe the story. Much of the background of seiko sounds a lot like glorified takamatsu stories. I mean let's face it, anyone involved in anything called ninjutsu in any way shape or form in the last 50 years or more wants to be like takamatsu. Who wouldn't? Some things about seiko have been cleared up. For example did he teach at the Nagano school during the war? Apparently the answer was no, but Antony cummins has discovered proof that seiko taught a few courses there. Anyway it's a good read, you won't believe half of it, after all none of us were there. An interesting man to be sure, but as far as the real thing goes....I'd stick with takamatsu. He's the real deal no matter what. Where the authentic life story of him?? C'mon hatsumi get your keyboard fired up!

Like others, I have always wanted to know more about the life and mystery surrounding Fujita Seiko and the Koga ryu ninja lineage. The book cites all the sources used, and goes into specific detail about Fujita's early life, how he came into the arts he studied, and which schools he either passed on, or took to the grave with him. It's also interesting to read about his funeral, and all the highly-respected budo/bujutsu and koryu practicioners that attended, testifying to Fujita's credentials. I also didn't know about his kempo, jojutsu and shurikenjutsu arts, for which he was known in Japan at the time, rather than his "secret" side (Koga Wada ha). All in all, a quick, informative read. It's less than a hundred pages, but for 10 dollars, you can't beat this!

I enjoyed this book a lot and have reread it a few times now. Fujita Seiko was certainly a one of a kind. Whether he was truly a Ninja or for that matter, whether his Grand Father was, remains controversial. Then again that could be said of many of the figures in modern Ninjutsu. He was most certainly a respected Budoka and author. I will say that this man has the BEST CLAIM to being the last Koga Ninja, no-one else comes close. None the less this book is an interesting insight into pre-war Japanese martial arts and public perceptions of the Ninja. I'm just hoping that someone translates some of Fujita Seiko's books into English so I can read HIS words (Hint Hint).

I feel that Shihan Hevener did an excellent job in researching and reporting this amazing story. I found the information enlightening and very interesting. Additionally, considering the number of artists practicing Kogo-ryu Ninjutsu and the fact that Mr. Hevener has or is a practicing member of the Bujinkan, I feel Mr. Hevener's approach rather unbiased and fair, both to O'Sensei Seiko and to Koga-ryu Ninjutsu practioners.I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Japanese history and/or in Japanese martial arts, expecially the history of ninjutsu.

The book was package with other items. However, it appears that the book was read or looked through by someone because of the pages crease. I like to know that I am paying for a new book. Good content and well written. The author has done a very thorough research on the subject.

Man, this book is too small. It could have been as thick as a dictionary, and it would still be interesting! It was an eye opener for me. Not on the Koka/Koga claims, but on who Fujita Seiko was, as a man, as a martial arts practitioner.This is a must for anyone interested in Ninjutsu. It does put to rest some claims, while for me, it increased the mystic around such a great man.Loved it, just loved it.

This book does a terrific job of filling in many of the holes in the story of the life and times of the "last Koga ninja." For anyone interested in martial arts history, it's a must have. Congratulations to the author for ferreting out such a fascinating story. Sometimes truth is more interesting than fiction.

The author has done a good job researching this ryu and presenting to date the very little info about the life of fujita , his time with the yamabushi early life etc.It speaks about fujitas students and the various densho scrolls however it does not mention the makimono densho.The author speaks about the koka nakano during ww2 which was quite surprising. There is even a part where it describes kokas method of combat and the kempo connection which is in all ninjuts.From a child fujita was taught the rough and hard way and this reflects what takamatsu went through as a child.The author even shows the connection to the iga (modern togakure ryu sub family from iga).Bujinkan students would find this book an interseting read.

a rather interesting book that gives a nice insite to the man's life.at the end of it still left me wondering why on earth he let his system die with himsuch a shame that such knowledge so hard to gain was lost so completly

As expectedá

Highly recommend this book for it's history content & insight into a great man, a true icon of his time who influenced the Japanese martial arts of our modern society & preserved them for future martial arts for centuries to come.

Read this from cover to cover, and as far as I can gather, being the last last Koga Ninja,is Fujita Seiko's only substantiated claim to fame; the rest is essentially hearsay.